403 p., [16] p. of plates : 24 cm

"The son of an Indiana coal miner, Gil grew up playing baseball to forget the woes of the Great Depression. With the important lessons he learned in those years--to always be honest and never to resort to self-pity--he turned his love for baseball into an unforgettable career as the Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman who helped lead the team to six National League pennants, and later as the manager who turned the league underdogs into world champions--the 1969 Miracle Mets. Acclaimed authors Tom Clavin and Danny Peary tell Gil Hodges's incredible life story as never before, vividly tracing his baseball career with rare insight from family and friends, and also delving into his unsung tour of duty as a U.S. Marine. Never one to boast, he spoke little about his brave service in World War II, even with those close to him later in life. Along with Lou Gehrig and Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges is one of baseball's great role models. As a player who revolutionized the first-base position and drove in 1,274 runs, he may also be the greatest player not inducted into the Hall of Fame"--

Includes bibliographical references (p. 381-384) and index

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